Test firing missile



June 18, 1968 K. F. GAROUTTE TEST FIRING MISSILE Filed April 6, 1967 mm m m mam INVENTOR I KURT F. GAROUTTE llll United States Patent 3,388,668 TEST FIRING MISSILE Kurt F. Garoutte, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Apr. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 629,871 2 Claims. (Cl. 102-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE As an abstract of the disclosure, the invention is directed to a test firing missile having optimum flight characteristics including stability. It has a forward nose portion containing fuze means, rearwardly positioned means for securing missile launching media, and an intermediate body portion having longitudinally spaced transverse walls extending thereacross. A warhead simulating ballast mechanism extends lengthwise of and is secured to the spaced walls. A flash-smoke cartridge charge containing a. predetermined warhead center of gravity, is seated in a central portion of the ballast mechanism and in communication with receptacle means positioned on the ballast central portion, and conduit means communicatively interconnects the fuze means with the receptacle means.

This invention relates to missiles and more particularly to a dummy or test missile having a warhead simulating ballast mechanism of predetermined dynamic and inertial qualities.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a missile having an improved tracer or tracking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a missile which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a missile having optimum flight characteristics including stability.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal sectional view partially broken away of a test missile embodying the principles of the invention.

The test firing or dummy missile, shown generally at 10, has a forward nose cone portion 11 containing an appropriate tuze arrangement 12 and a rearwardly positioned ring 13 which is internally threaded for attachment of conventional missile launching media (not shown).

Intermediate body portion 14 contains a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending walls or bulkheads 15, 16 to which is secured a Warhead simulating 3,388,668 Patented June 18, 1968 ballast mechanism, shown generally at 17, of dynamic qualities to give the missile predetermined flight stability, etc. The enlarged central portion 18 of the ballast mechanism is provided with a through circular cavity defined by annular wall 19 for reception of a replaceable flash-smoke cartridge charge 20, with the warhead predetermined center of gravity 20A located therewithin. The opposed ends of wall 19 have suitably arranged threaded openings 21 for retaining screws 22 of corresponding cover plate 23, 23. Receptacles 24, 24 preferably are secured in partially tapped openings 25 that communicatively connect with the cartridge charge 20 through appropriately aligned openings 26 in the cavity wall 19. Each receptacle 24 has an appropriate fitting portion for connecting the aft end 28 of a fuze line or conduit 29 that extends rearwardly through the missile interior from the nose cone fuze arrangement 12. The forward portion 27 of fuze line 29 is appropriately mounted via bracket 31 to an interior wall support 30 located rearwardly adjacent the nose portion 11. The forward fuze line portion 27 is communicatively connected to a suitable gas pressure conduit (not shown) in fuze arrangement 12.

Various modifications, changes or alterations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a test firing missile having a forward nose portion, rearwardly positioned means for securing missile launch ing media, and an intermediate body portion,

fuze means in said nose portion,

longitudinally spaced transverse walls extending across said body portion,

a warhead simulating ballast mechanism secured to and extending longitudinally between said walls,

a flash-smoke cartridge charge seated in a central portion of said ballast mechanism,

receptacle means positioned on an external surface of said central ballast portion and in communication with said charge cartridge, and

conduit means communicatively interconnecting said fuze means with said receptacle means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said flash smoke cartridge charge contains a predetermined warhead center of gravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,094,934 6/1963 Anthony l02---4l 3,112,671 12/1963 Dunham et al 102-41 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

V. 'R. PENDEGRASS, Assistant Examiner. 

